With a population of nearly 100 million people and a sharp increase in healthcare spending (8.7 times higher in the past 30 years), the Vietnamese pharmaceutical market has attracted the attention of many international pharmaceutical companies. It is forecasted that this market will reach a value of up to 10 billion USD by 2026, creating great opportunities for international investors and pharmaceutical companies to enter and expand their operations here.
Vietnam is gradually becoming one of the bright spots in the global pharmaceutical industry, not only meeting domestic demand but also having great export potential thanks to strong development in the fields of research and production. With developing infrastructure and the need to treat chronic diseases, aging problems and infectious diseases, Vietnam is now a strategic market for the pharmaceutical industry. Therefore, large companies in the world are looking to expand their market share in Vietnam.
In this context, Mayoly - one of the oldest pharmaceutical companies in France, has officially entered the Vietnamese market. With more than 116 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Mayoly has decided to invest directly in Vietnam by establishing a representative office in Ho Chi Minh City, marking a major shift from distribution cooperation to direct investment. This event not only reflects Mayoly's confidence in the Vietnamese market but also demonstrates the company's long-term strategy in the Southeast Asian region.
Mr. Emmanuel Paint, Vice President of Global Operations of Mayoly said: "Vietnam aims to have the pharmaceutical industry reach the level of advanced ASEAN countries by 2045. Therefore, Vietnam is not only a consumer market but also an R&D center for specialized products in the digestive and neurological fields. Therefore, we wish to contribute to the development of the Vietnamese pharmaceutical industry, committing to invest 15 million Euros/year in R&D in Vietnam, focusing on tropical medicinal herbs and biotechnology".
Accordingly, Mayoly has identified three key strategies to dominate the pharmaceutical market in Vietnam. The first is the transfer of soft capsule production technology to the IPSEN CHC factory in Bien Hoa, which is expected to produce 400 million capsules per year from 2026. The second is the strategic cooperation with Hoang Duc Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company, which accounts for 45% of the pharmacy market share in the Southern region. The third is product localization, adjusting 30% of the Smecta® formula to suit the Vietnamese physique, combining local herbs.
As a French company, Mayoly benefits greatly from the Vietnam-European Union Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). Accordingly, 51% of EU pharmaceuticals will be exempted from tariffs as soon as the agreement comes into effect, helping Mayoly reduce transportation costs by up to 8%. This creates a great advantage for the company when entering the Vietnamese market, while also helping it access public hospital systems, which account for 65% of the pharmaceutical industry's revenue.
Despite the opportunities, Mayoly also faces major challenges such as fierce competition from domestic pharmaceutical companies, especially Hau Giang Pharmaceutical, which accounts for over 60% of the smectite market share. In addition, Indian pharmaceuticals are also a price competitor. However, Mayoly is confident in its competitive advantage thanks to its more than 100 years of experience in the industry and its EU-GMP-certified factory system.
Mayoly is not only focusing on the Vietnamese market but also plans to expand its operations in countries in the Southeast Asian region such as Laos and Cambodia. Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh Tu, CEO of Mayoly Vietnam, shared: "We are negotiating to transfer soft capsule production technology to three domestic enterprises, aiming to be 80% self-sufficient in medicine by 2045. This not only reflects Mayoly's ambition but also aligns with the Vietnamese Government's strategic goal of developing the domestic pharmaceutical industry. Currently, we are also cooperating with Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy in clinical research, especially for the product Tanakan® (memory loss)".
According to NielsenIQ's forecast, Mayoly could account for about 12-15% of the OTC drug market share (non-prescription drugs, allowed to be sold directly to consumers without a doctor's prescription) in Vietnam by 2030 if it maintains strong investment in research and development, with a budget of up to 15 million Euros per year. Mayoly's success will create great opportunities for European pharmaceutical companies to expand their operations in Southeast Asia, serving as a springboard for the development of the pharmaceutical industry in Vietnam and the region.
With smart strategies, support from the French government, and the goal of promoting innovation and development, Mayoly promises to be an important name in the Vietnamese pharmaceutical industry in the coming years.
According to Tin Tuc Newspaper
Source: https://doanhnghiepvn.vn/doanh-nhan/thi-truong-duoc-pham-viet-nam-thu-hut-nhieu-cong-ty-duoc-quoc-te/20250314104724628
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